The <a href="http://www.laautoshow.com/">9th Los Angeles Auto Show</a> recently unveiled an amazing lineup of futuristic <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/06/07/photosynthetic-concept-car-keeps-it-clean-with-plant-power/">concept cars</a> designed by some of the biggest names in auto manufacturing. Manufacturers such as <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/01/27/diy-hyper-modified-honda-motorcycle-hits-214-mpg/">Honda</a>, Mercedes and luxury car maker Maybach are all competing for a "green" award at the auto show, where they were all challenged to come up with "comfortable, stylish and safe" vehicles that would weigh no more than 1,500 lbs (that is lighter than a Mini Metro) and run on <a href="http://inhabitat.com/energy/">renewable fuels</a>. From vehicles that generate energy by absorbing light to cars powered by compressed air to innovative ways to "grow" cars rather than build them, read on for six of our favorite designs!

1

Honda Air

Inspired by rollercoasters and skydiving suits, the Honda Air is designed to run on compressed air instead of petrol.

2

Honda Air

More astonishingly, it is one of the lightest submissions at just 800lbs.

3

NissaniV

This stunning vehicle from Nissan is designed to be manufactured from a unique biopolymer frame.

4

NissaniV3

The frame will be constructed from a form of fast-growing ivy and a spider silk composite.

5

Volvo Air Motion

Made from less than a thousand parts, the Volvo Air Motion is powered by compressed air motors, making it not only green but light. In fact, it weights less than an F1 racecar.

6

Volvo Air Motion

Designed by the Volvo Monitoring and Concept Center (VMCC) in California, the Air Motion also boasts an open cockpit and a unique front to back seating arrangement.

7

Cadillac Aera

While it may resemble the next generation of Batmobile, the Cadillac Aera is a futuristic 2+2 coupe, which is design to run on alternatives fuels with a range of 1,000 miles.

One of the most innovative designs of the whole auto show, the Mercedes-Benz Biome (which is one of three seperate designs Mercedes submitted) would be 'grown' instead of manufactured.

10

Mercedes-Benz Biome2

The car company have envisioned a world where "each vehicle is grown from two seeds." One seed, the front star, grows the interior of the vehicle from Mercedes-Benz DNA, while the seed capsule creates the vehicle's exterior.

11

Mercedes-Benz Biome

Not just that, but the organic material from which it is made would absorb solar energy like a plant does.

12

Maybach DRS3

Maybach's egg-shaped vehicle is been designed to be the world's first naturally manufactured vehicle (NMV), as it would be born from a coded DNA cocoon.

13

Maybach DRS2

The DRS, or Den-Riki-Sha (electricity-powered car, in English) would also be run by an electric motor.

14

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Honda Air

The 9th Los Angeles Auto Show recently unveiled an amazing lineup of futuristic concept cars designed by some of the biggest names in auto manufacturing. Manufacturers such as Honda, Mercedes and luxury car maker Maybach are all competing for a "green" award at the auto show, where they were all challenged to come up with "comfortable, stylish and safe" vehicles that would weigh no more than 1,500 lbs (that is lighter than a Mini Metro) and run on renewable fuels. From vehicles that generate energy by absorbing light to cars powered by compressed air to innovative ways to "grow" cars rather than build them, read on for six of our favorite designs!